News & Press Room

1. Business Woman. Janet Garufis, President, Montecito Bank and Trust. (Betty Hatch Award). This award is made to a chamber businesswoman, who through her actions is a role model for the local community. Past winners include: Renee Grubb, Karen Chakel, and Julie McGovern. Janet began her banking career over 30 years ago with Security Pacific Bank, now Bank of America. She is currently the President of Montecito Bank and Trust. She is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School and holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from California State University Northridge. Garufis is currently working to complete her Ph.D. from the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, UC Santa Barbara. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Santa Barbara Symphony and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Sansum Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic and a director and officer of the Chamber of Commerce. Janet is a role model for all academics and business people in demonstrating how expertise from both fields can be practically merged to benefit the community.

 

2. Innovator. Dr. Ken Kosik, co-director Neurosciences Institute. This award is traditionally presented to an individual who has made a significant innovative contribution to positively impacting our world. Past winners include university chancellors, Nobel laureates, architects, researchers and inventors. Dr. Kosik received his M.D. degree in 1976 from the Medical College of Pennsylvania and completed a neurology residency from Tufts New England Medical Center where he served as chief resident in 1979. From 1980 until 2005 he held various appointments at the Harvard Medical School where he became Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience in 1996. In the fall of 2004 he assumed the co-directorship of the Neuroscience Research Institute and the Harriman Chair in the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of California Santa Barbara. He received a Whitaker Health Sciences Award from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Metropolitan Life Foundation Medical Award, the Derek Denny-Brown Neurological Scholar Award from the American Neurological Association, the Zenith Award from the Alzheimer's Association, the Ranwell Caputo Medal from the Argentine Society of Neurochemistry, and a NASA Group Achievement Award to the Neurolab Science Team.

We are pleased to recognize Dr. Kosik for the work he is doing to make this a better world for all of us.

 

3. Community Collaboration. Mario Borgatello, President, Marborg Industries. This award is made to a chamber business making a significant contribution to the quality of life and economic vitality of the Region. Past winners have been: Montecito Bank and Trust, Venoco, Santa Barbara Bank and Trust, Yardi Systems, and 50 others. Mario Borgatello is the President of Marborg Industries. MarBorg Industries is a family owned and operated business that has provided exceptional service and customer satisfaction in the greater Santa Barbara area for more than 70 years. Started in 1936, by Mario F. Borgatello, his father. The community is important to Mario and the Borgatello family because that was one of his father's main teachings. His father always told him, Never forget what has brought you to where you are. We exist because of the community and we have to serve the community. Marborg and their family of employees have supported hundreds of local non-profit organizations. His son, Anthony, serves as El Presidente of this year's Fiesta.

 

4. Businessman. Angel Martinez, President, Deckers. This award is made to a chamber businessman, who through his actions is a role model for the local community. Past winners have been: Ed Heron, John Indrieri, Michael Towbes and 50 others. Angel joined Deckers in April 2005 as President and Chief Executive Officer. Previously, Mr. Martinez was Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Keen LLC, an outdoor footwear manufacturer. Prior thereto he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Reebok International Ltd. and as Chief Executive Officer and President of The Rockport Company. Angel is a member of the Chamber's Business Leaders Council. As Deckers continues into the future, it strives to be a premier lifestyle marketer that builds niche brands in global markets. Angel is building Deckers into one of Santa Barbara's fastest growing companies. His goal is to re-create the Reebok model here in Santa Barbara. He helped build Reebok into a 5 billion dollar company.

 

For more information please contact Steve Cushman, at (805) 965-3023